Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-12-22
SHAKE RAG UNDER THE HILL.
CONTINUED from first page.)

was cast in the box designed for the
"T's"-for he had come TO know it
how his heart leaped, and any PEG
son who noticed him particularly at
that moment could have seen a verv
perceptible color mount to his cheeks
above the heavy growth of beard
that covered his lower features. It
might be from her, aud when the
brown board, which covered the de-
livery aperture during the distribu
ton, was removed, how his heart
beat when, with an attempted air Of
Indifference, be SAID, "Anything for
Tonkyns?" How his eye hung on
each letter briefly Glanced over, az
if be could devour it. He had even
come to know the letters which had
laid there uncalled for long time,
and recognized at once any new ar
rival among the "old-timers," as he
came to call them. Aud when the
last letter was glanced at, and the
searcher shook his head with a
smile, shock Of cold disappoint-
ment penetrated his bosom, aud he
stepped back to feel, with greater
force, how utterly lonely he was,
and how much really depended, to
him, On what he 80 2rdently expect
ed; and from the close, dingy little
candle-lit room he stepped out, feel
ing it to be dingier and less cheer
full than it was. But ON vending
his way back to his little cabin, in
the upper part of the vide hollow,
hope would start afresh In his lonely
breast, and be would say to himself,
at Will come tomorrow; it must
| come tomorrow"
Aud would you call him heart
less, ruthless man in whose bosom
such an innocent cause could awaken
such Al emotion?
But 1t came At last; it really came
At 'ast-tbe letter 80 long expected
But, how Elusive are our fondest
hopes, and how impotent our dearest
tancies. Joe had not the supreme
pleasure of taking it from the office
| himself.
Sam Pilchard of whom mucn
more hereafter-was Joe's partner
in his little cabin, and also in the
mine ON the hillside above. For
reasons not known to tile writer,
and therefore necessarily unknown
10 the rsader, Joe had remained a.
home while his partner took his
usual turn up the long street after
the hard days labor. About ten
O'clock Me-. Samuel PiIchard came
home IN that very uncertain state
which betOkens too free indul-
gence In the flowing bowl, amd what
awakened Joe from "A partial slun-
Der was, "Joe Tonkyns, 'ere's a let
ter for ZEE" The next second Joe
was ON his feet, with the letter in
his hand, and his eager eyes glauc.
my at the neat little inscription, aud
the postmark of OlJ England III The
corner. 1t had come at last; that
which he had 80 ardently hoped for
was IN his hand. How often, la the
darkness of the mine, deIylng III
wet aud cold, the thought that even
then II might be in the stage rolling
along the stony road, had sent y
thrll through him, and given new
vigor 10 his ARA.
And here it was; there was nc
mistake about that. Joe Tonkyns
! Esq" in plain writing
He glanced at Puchard. That
worthy was already doing on the
bed, 50 with trembling, eager hands
Joe opened the letter, suolfed the
candle, ana sat down to read 1t:
TRURO, June r. lSi3.
! DEAR BROIHEH;-I now take my pen in hauC
| TO write you these few lines hoping they will
lind YOU In good health as IL leaves mu sat pres
[ eut THANK God for II. l received your Kin,
I letter with the nifty pounds few day ago, an,
/ was much surprised 20 ind that you mad LET
the SEA and had taken to the mines; at which
! hope you will continue to do well. Ia
miners here just now do not do well, as tin i
low aud the mines not very promising.
/ nave shown your kind letter 10 mother
cousin ann, in whose family at lruro ! now
am, H- | did nOl ike to live alone IN the nous
Z AFTER dear mother was tahtu away Abh@ll
| Ann thinAs taNurHby OF your kind oiter, AS dt
her husband who hccpS shop IN this place aut
i very well to do. And think taForauly OF II
mN self and thank YOU very kindly Tor you
care for mo So / will come 10 YOU though I
pains me 10 leave England where / was uorl
aud raised. Mn. samuel fcn9hy Is goiug ou
t1 -.,eAlcJ tE tue ttii, ana says | can go VIII
ann as far rs New Orleans, which VIII ne guo'
company over the seat SO / shall star, VIII
him and shall sdl | expect in early September
iue house we lived an, you maN know, ~
turned 10 the luru of the land At mother
DEATH us hers was the last life uu IL, aud VIVA
other property we had did not amount 10 much
But can get along VerS well ON what on Sent
cousin Ann SAYS / can nix up ike the QHecl
herself and yet have enough lett 90 pay w.
uas-iau. So .oodby for me resent.
Your udetuoutte sister
Many GLOAN.
PSI have dirocteithe letter as you dilre'
eel. hope You hal done nothing wrong 'Aa
,uu have changed our name
CHAPTER ul.-IHE PREr
She wa, coming. How strange
seemed. tie even felt a httu
frightened al first at the success o
mo project, and for ,he first ttne th'
importance and peculiar diihcniue
ol hts position dawued upon mum